Edward james devine



(No Model.)

B. J. DEVINE.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY TRAINS.

Patented Apr. 21

UNITED STATES EDXVARD JAMES DEVINE,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF SCIIREIBER, CANADA.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAY-TRAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 558,602, dated April 21, 1896.

Application filed July 25,1895.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD JAMES DE- VINE, of Schreiber, in the Provi nee of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Railway-Trains and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in electric signals for railway-trains, and is specially designed as an improvement upon the device shown and described in Letters Patent No. 541,389, issued to me June 18, 1895.

The object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and arrangement of parts, lessen the number of wires for signaling between the ends of a train and to said ends from intermediate points thereof, and to provide a new and improved form of coupling between the wires of adjacent cars, which will also serve as short-circuit closers in the event of any break between any two cars of a train. These objects I accomplish by providin g an electric connection between all of the cars of a train, said connection being com posed of three wires, one of which is a common return-wire, while the remaining two wires can be thrown into circuit therewith, one by push-buttons or the like operated at the ends of the train, and the other upon any break occurring between the cars. The wires between the cars are united by couplings having interlocking metallic plates and pivoted arms or levers, which serve to hold the parts united and also close the circuits by contacting with said plates when a break occurs.

The invention comprises the novel features of construction and also the detail combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fullyset forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the end portions of twocars provided with my improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 are side views of the coupling, enlarged, the former showing the parts united and the latter disconnected. Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views on the lines m 00 and 1 1 Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of the circuit-wires.

erial No. 657,090. (No model.)

Referring to the drawings, A A designate the frames of two cars of a train. In each car, preferably along the top thereof, although it may be at any other convenient point, is arranged a series of electric wires -1, 2, and These wires are insulated and the ends of wires 1 and 2 in the rearmost seriessay in the caboose of a freight-trainare connected to a bell and battery a, while the wires 1 and 3 may be connected or thrown in circuit bya push-button a.

At the other end of the trainsay in the cab of the engine-the wires 1 and 3 connect with the bell and battery a and the wires and 2 with a push-button a Hence signaling from one end of the train to the other may be accomplished by closing the circuits through the agency of either push-button. hen the union between the wires of any two cars is broken and the circuits closed at those points, the signal in the caboose will be given through the agency of wires 1' and 2 and that in the cab of the engine through wires 1 and 3. Hence it will be seen that wire 1 serves as a common return-wire, and signaling by either means at both points can be accomplished by the use of but three wires.

13 designates the improved coupling, which is composed of two corresponding parts or members I), each of which has a series of three U-shaped metallic plates 1), held at one end between two blocks b of gutta-percha or other non-conducting material, the block Z) having an extended portion b" parallel with the edges of the plates 1) and tapered on its outer side, as at b a plate I) being secured on its end. These blocks are united by a metallic keeper 0, which incloses the same. To the inner ends of the U shaped plates the ends of wires 1, 2, and 3 are connected. The two parts or members I? of the complete couplingljare united by the U-shaped plates, the same as in my above-noted patent.

D D designate two short-circuit closers, one carried by each of the parts of the coupling and designed each to contact with the metallic plates b of the respective part and close the circuit in the event of any break in a train. Each of these circuit-closers con sists of a lever fulcrumed near one end on a short post e, projecting from the keeper 0. The forward larger arm of this lever has a curved thickened portion 8, divided into two members 6 by a central longitudinal groove 6 of width corresponding to the central one of the U-shaped plates 7)", so that when this thickened portion is in contact with the plates the two members thereof will fit snug between the three plates 1'). A spring c engaging the short arm 6 tends to force the grooved face of the lever into contact with the U-shaped plates. \Vhen the two parts of the coupling are forced together, the thickened faces of the levers contact with the plates b and occupy approximately horizontal positions. Then, again, these levers aid in holding the two parts together. Instantly upon any break in the train and the separation of the two parts of the coupling the two levers immediately contact with the respective U -shaped plates and eifect short-circuiting through each part of the severed coupling, and hence the giving of an alarm or signal at both ends of the train.

The entire coupling may be inclosed in a tube or cylinder F, which protects it from ice, snow, &c. This tube or cylinder is composed of two semicylindrical sections f, attached each at one end to the insulated end of one of the parts of the coupling. One longitudinal edge of each section f has a curved portion f, forming a groove to accommodate and hold the flanged edge f of the other section. In this way both sections are united and protect the coupling-plates. They will readily separate in the event of any break between the cars.

The advantages of my present invention are apparent. It will be specially observed that the circuit-closers constitute part of the couplings, and when the parts or members of the latter are united the levers aid in part in holding them together; but as soon as the U- shaped plates are drawn apart the thickened ends of the levers immediately engage therewith.

It will also be noted that I provide complete electric circuits between the ends of the train by the use of but three wires, one of which acts as a common return-wire, while the other wires serve, respectively, for signaling from one end of the train to the other and for giving signals at both ends of the train upon any break occurring therein.

I claim as my invention 1. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires between said cars, composed of two parts or members havinginterloekin g U -shaped plates to which said wires are connected, and short-circuit closers carried by said parts or members and having con tact portions divided into members designed to fit snug between said U-shaped plates when said parts or members are separated, as set forth.

2. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires between said cars, composed of two parts or members having interlocking spaced-apart U-shaped plates to which said wires are connected, a

projecting portion extending from one end of each of said parts or members over said plates, and arms or levers pivotally mounted on said parts or members and having contact portions divided into separate members and designed to engage said projecting portions when said plates are in engagement, and to engage said plates when the latter are separated, said contact members fitting between said plates, substantially as set forth.

3. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires between said cars, composed of two parts or members having each a series of U-shaped plates designed to interlock, said wires being connected to said plates, non-conducting blocks securing said U -shaped plates, and levers mounted on said parts or members and designed to engage the said blocks of the other part or member when the latter are coupled and to engage said plates when said parts or members are separated, substantially as set forth.

4. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling for said wires between said cars, composed of two parts or members having each a series of U-shaped plates designed to interlock, said wires being connected to said plates, non-conducting blocks securing said U-shaped plates, keepers inclosing said blocks, levers fulcrumed on said keepers, and springs bearing against said levers, said levers at their outer ends being designed to engage said U -shaped plates when said parts or members are separated, substantially as set forth.

5. In a train-signal having a series of wires in each car, a coupling formed in two parts or members having each a series of interlocking plates to which said wires are connected, non-conductin g blocks holding said plates and having projecting portions, spring-pressed levers mounted on said parts or members and having contact portions designed to engage said plates when said parts or members are separated and which engage said projecting portions of said blocks when said parts or members are united,substantially as set forth.

6. In a train-signal having couplings for the wires between the cars,inclosing tubes for said couplings composed of two semicylindrical sections attached each at one end to said coupling and provided each along one longitudinal edge with a flange and on its other edge with a longitudinal groove, the flange of one section being designed to fit in the groove of the other, whereby said sections are held locked together and capable of being disconnected by a sliding longitudinal movement, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDXVARD JAMES I)I I\"INE.

Witnesses:

Jos. A. DESILETS, A. LEFEBVRE. 

